USC Baseball Welcomes Back Pros

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Sports Department

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) -- Ray Tanner was ready to put the uniform on again Friday to challenge Chad Holbrook and the current Gamecock baseball team.

Tanner and USC welcomed back former Gamecock pro baseball players at a reunion lunch Friday at Carolina Stadium. The former coach turned athletics director told the group they laid a foundation of winning that gives the current program an advantage.

Seattle Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak said playing at Carolina prepared him for a career in the big leagues. Smoak obliterated the USC home run record in his three year college career. From 06-08 Smoak hit 62 home runs, 14 more than the previous record held by Hank Small. Smoak also owns the USC career records for RBI (207), total bases (485) and walks (151).

Other former players in attendance Friday with Major League experience included Michael Roth, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Steven Tolleson.